Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

You can transform your garden into a handmade, personality-infused oasis. Author Lorene Edwards Forkner — part eco-friendly non-traditionalist, part crafty creative — will show you how.

Projects run the gamut from eye-catching structures, like a pergola made from plumbing pipes, to imaginative details, like a tree-hung chandelier for nighttime ambiance. You'll also find helpful plant guides to accompany projects: delectable herbs to fill a stacking container tower, stellar succulents for a vertical gutter garden, glorious flowering vines to climb a bamboo obelisk, and so much more.

Ready to get started? All you need are refreshingly simple, inexpensive materials — hardware store basics, salvaged goods, repurposed castoffs from cluttered basements — along with a little do-it-yourself spirit. With clear instructions and inspiring variations on every theme, this book is easy to follow and easy to love. Your journey to a made-from-scratch outdoor space starts here.

Review

“A cocktail of decorative garden projects, some labor intensive, others quickly accomplished, all fused with the now familiar aesthetic of urban rusticity that comes of repurposing inexpensive materials and reusing found objects.” San Francisco Chronicle

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“The book is filled with ideas for turning unused items and common materials into decorative and functional garden accents.” Akron Beacon Journal

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“The book is part inspiration and part manual, but for anyone comfortable working with simple tools and construction materials there is just enough step-by-step instruction to get started.” San Francisco Chronicle

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“There are fun, do-able things in this book.” Philadelphia Inquirer

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“If you need a little inspiration for infusing your personality into your own garden, be sure to check out her book.” Digging

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“A creative new book…filled with ideas and instructions with DIY ideas from fountains to fire pits.” Plant Talk

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“Fresh take on life outdoors.” Plant Talk

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"If you are wondering what's in this book for plant nerds, the good news is: Plenty." San Diego Home - & - Garden Magazine

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"A collection of simple and inspiring projects that take your garden--be it balcony, small or large--to the next level and reflect your personality and taste." Treehugger

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"Handmade Garden Projects is one of the books that puts a smile on your face...any gardener is bound to find a project they'll love...jam-packed with colorful photos, great advice and good guidance, making it a must-have. Better buy two, one to keep for yourself!" The Republican Journal

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“Fresh take on life outdoors.” San Diego Home - & - Garden Magazine

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"If you are wondering what's in this book for plant nerds, the good news is: Plenty." Pacific Horticulture

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"[Offers] pretty unique creative weekend projects." Poppytalk

Synopsis

Your journey to a made-from-scratch outdoor space starts here.

Transform your yard into a beautifully personalized retreat with 30 step-by-step projects The finished pieces include creative pathways, unique support structures, DIY water features, clever containers, and special finishing touches that help bring your garden to life. With easy to follow instructions, lush color photography, and sidebars filled with helpful tips and additional ideas, Handmade Garden Projects is an inspiring step toward a more stylish space.

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About the Author

Lorene Edwards Forkner is the author of several gardening books, including Hortus Miscellaneous (2007), Growing Your Own Vegetables, and Canning and Preserving Your Own Harvest (both 2009). Her writing has appeared in several national and regional publications including Organic Gardening, MaryJane's Farm, Northwest Garden News, and Edible Seattle.

A popular speaker with a warm engaging manner, Lorene is always eager to weigh in on horticultural mysteries, offer direction for design conundrums, and teach DIY gardeners how to dig in and craft a personal landscape filled with an abundance of interest and delicious flavor.

Lorene considers her approach to making gardens to be rooted in childhood outdoor play, supported by a degree in fine art and years of experience owning and operating Fremont Gardens, a small specialty retail nursery in Seattle, Washington.

At home in West Seattle, Lorene tends a city garden abundantly filled with favorite plants, a small but productive vegetable garden, plenty of room for relaxation, and a tiny vintage travel trailer. She fully admits she is a garden geek most at bliss when covered in dirt. You can follow her adventures at PlantedAtHome.com.